AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“What did he say?” Oliver’s expression said he wouldn’t be happy no matter what she told him.
“I get to pick Amelie up from the bar.”
Oliver pulled her into a hug and squeezed, giving her one of his bear hugs. “Be careful, ‘Vieve. I don’t want to see you get hurt.”
She squeezed back, telling him in the only way she knew how that she wouldn’t get hurt. As long as everything stayed as it was, nobody would get hurt.
Ushering Oliver out of her apartment didn’t take long. He knew when he had lost an argument. Whatever cheating husband he was spying on tonight he’d have to do it alone. She grabbed her overnight bag, her bag of snacks, and was out the door five minutes after Oliver left. The ride to the bar was smooth, but when she got there, she had a hard time finding a spot. She had to park a block away. It was jammed packed when she stepped inside. Corey didn’t see her right away. But the moment he did, she swore a smile hit his lips. It was brief, but enough to make her heart pitter-patter for a second.
He nodded toward the other end of the bar and she made her way through the throng of people.
He had to lean closer to her once they hit the hallway so she’d hear him over the loud chattering going on.
“It’s my first Valentine’s in a long time. I forgot how crazy it can get. Thanks for coming here instead.”
She nodded and followed him, trying to ignore how the slight scent of his cologne enticed her to scoot even closer. She paused when he opened the door to the upstairs apartment. The last time she had been here, she broke the law. Hurt this very man with her actions.
“Water under the bridge. Come on.” Then he was jaunting up the stairs and she was forced to follow him, although appreciated he understood her hesitation.
Brick, his brother, was buttoning his shirt when they got upstairs. His eyes narrowed at her, yet he didn’t say anything.
Corey and his brother shared a look. It wasn’t hard to decipher what they were silently saying to each other. She was the bad guy and Brick didn’t want her near Amelie.
“It’s getting busy. You can head down there,” Corey told Brick.
Brick walked over to Amelie in her pack-n-play and kissed her on the head. “Be a good girl. Uncle Brick loves you.” As he got closer to her, he paused. “You’re lucky my brother is such a forgiving guy. You don’t deserve his forgiveness.” Then he kept walking and left.
Nice to know where she stood with the uncle. On his shit list.
Corey dug in his pocket and removed a set of keys. “Take my car. It’s parked in the alley.”
“What? Why?”
“Because getting that car seat in and out is a bitch. It’ll be easier if you use my car. I can bring you back here tomorrow.”
Well, that made sense. Not that she had ever put a car seat in, but if he said it was difficult, she’d trust him. Like he trusted her.
She fiddled around her purse until she found her keys. “I had to park a block away, but you can use my car to get home. I’ll get a parking ticket if it stays all night.”
They stared at one another, keys dangling in the air until he nodded and they swapped.
“Thanks for this.” Corey nodded toward the diaper bag. “Grab that and I’ll get Amelie ready.”
They were out the door less than five minutes later. She told Corey where she parked so he could find it later this evening. She bundled Amelie into the cold car, swung by her own to grab her bags, blocking traffic for a minute, then was off.
She was going to make this Valentine’s Day the best day ever for her and Amelie. Girls’ night.
* * *
The night went by fast.People coming in and out. Laughter, chatting, and even tears were shed. Not everyone enjoyed Valentine’s Day. He was proud to note he sold a lot of ‘panty ripping time’ glasses with the signature drink Panty Ripper. Lots of people would be getting laid tonight.
He wished he would be one of them.
With Genevieve.
Yet, he knew it would be a bad idea. The few days in between from seeing her last gave him time to think of how idiotic it would be to take that leap with her. They’d have sex, release the sexual tension between each other, and then everything would go to shit. The awkwardness would increase and he wouldn’t see her anymore because the awkwardness would be too much.
It was close to three in the morning when he and Ricky had the bar cleaned and closed up for the night. By the twinkling in his eyes, his brother was getting lucky tonight. It didn’t matter Jezebelle was already asleep. He’d wake her up and show her a good time with her not complaining about any of it.
